A GROUP that helps to shape homes and services provided by one of the North East’s biggest housing associations needs new members.

County Durham-based believe housing is looking for two customer representatives and an independent member, who is not a tenant or leaseholder, to join its Customer Voices group.

The not-for-profit housing provider manages more than 18,000 homes and aims to deliver life without barriers through support for customers, community grants, plus huge investment in building new homes and upgrading existing ones. 

Its Customer Voices panel ensures it listens and responds to customers’ views when making decisions and sticks to its core value to “do the right thing”.

Customer Voices meets every three months, online or in person, and members work on specific projects and make recommendations to improve services.

Recent projects have led to a review of community hubs and improvements to the complaints procedure. This year’s work will include looking at believe housing’s role in managing neighbourhoods, the quality of homes and empty homes.

Following consultation about the best way to involve customers in the governance and scrutiny of believe housing, the membership makeup of the group is changing.

To do this, two customers and an independent member are now being recruited.

They will be expected to commit about eight hours a month to the role, attending meetings, reading papers and working on specific projects. In return, they will be paid £800 a year and offered a variety of training and development opportunities.

Anyone interested has until Sunday, 12 March 2023 to apply.

Judith Common, Chair of the Board at believe housing, said: “The Customer Voices group plays a really important role at believe housing, offering valuable insight to drive the organisation forward.

“We want to provide the best possible homes and services to customers, helping create a solid foundation for life without barriers, and members make sure we never lose sight of those customers.”

“It's not a massive commitment but it is very worthwhile,” says Chair of Customer Voices, Jack McGurk.

“We are listened to and really make a positive difference to believe housing and to where we live.”

For details and to apply, by Sunday, 12 March 2023, visit www.believehousing.co.uk/customer-voices